Colorado/Canyon opinions?

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
05/18/2016 at 08:50 • Filed to: None

I’m in the market fpr a truck. I love the 01-04 Dakota, and love the 04+ f150. I could handle an Equator for the right price. Any Oppo’s have firsthand experience with the last-gen GM twins?

DISCUSSION (40)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 08:55

They’re built like crap, IMO (at least the 05 Colorado work truck I had was)...thing was always in the shop for engine or tranny work and the interior basically melted away.

If it’s in your budget, just get a F150, unless you need the extra 1-4mpg of the smaller truck.

Edit: this might get hate, but I drive the 4.2l F150 - decent gas mileage and I've never been lacking in tow/hauling capability.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 08:59

No helpful feedback here, but just wanted to comment on how dumb a placement that lightbar has.

Ash78, voting early and often > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
05/18/2016 at 09:00

Those were the ones contracted out of Thailand, right? I knew a couple guys who had them, but both traded them within 1-2 years after getting sick of them (both traded for full size trucks). I love the IDEA of a smaller truck, but when all is said and done, most people just don't really need the smaller size or few extra mpg, like you said. Prices are almost identical.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:02

Best friend had a mid 2000s I-5 4x4 4-door. The engine needed a new head at 101k due to a known defect and GM refused to cover it since it stopped coverage at 100k miles. It broke down a lot and had lots of little issues.

He traded it for an ecoboost F-150 and the only thing he misses is the light weight for trail runs. Look into a ranger or tacoma if you want to do trail stuff.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:10

A friend of mine has a crew-cab Canyon and although he loves it, it’s constantly having its check engine light flashing. I would go on an owners forum and just ask how they are like. If you can get an Equator, get it because I’ve heard Nissan Frontiers are great trucks.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:11

Oh yeah. Fun little trucks. Not terribly capable out of the box, but lots of potential. Obviously I recommend finding a V8, but the 3.7 with a manual and a good tune is no slouch either.

However, if you can’t put up with a squeaky and basic cabin, I can’t honestly say it would be a good fit for you. I really don’t care. It’s a truck, not a luxury car, no matter how much fake leather is in it. I’d like it if it didn’t squeak, but I can put up with it.

The other thing I’d say is my experience has been very much love-hate. I hate the lack of bolstering in the seats. I love the looks. The ride is choppy. But while you notice every single bump, and some of them hammer you worse than other vehicles, it shrugs off plenty of holes that would really hammer other vehicles, so meh. It wanders on the highway. But the steering wheel, while a little loose on the center truck style, actually transmits road feel quite well. You can almost feel the texture of the road. The handling depends on you more than anything. If you’re kind of tired and just want to get home, you won’t like it. It’s a chore. It’ll get bored, wander off and do it’s own thing. But if you’re awake and grab it by the balls, it’s capable of doing most of what you ask of it, and actually pretty well.

All in all, it’s a fun truck with a distinct character, and I like it.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:13

If you don’t mind CELs, go for it.

In all seriousness, the F-150 is the better bet. Even with the give on MPG you’ll come out ahead on parts and problems.

OPPOsaurus WRX > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:13

I had an ‘04 and it help up well (until it didn;t) but it was comfortable, hard working and I always got a lot of compliments on it (not my truck pictured) They are also supposed to be fairly capable

Kinja'd!!!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
05/18/2016 at 09:16

‘05 was early in the production run, the bugs were still getting worked out. Personally I wouldn’t reccommend buying in earlier than the engine change from the 2.8 and 3.5 to the 2.9 and 3.7 engines.

My experience (and disclaimer: I have an LT with the V8, not a W/T) is that the base it’s built on is solid, and the interior is where it falls down. Hard. Of course, the 4l60 is a weak link too, but it’s adequate most of the time.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > OPPOsaurus WRX
05/18/2016 at 09:18

Okay...um...which one of us needs more coffee? (Colorado and the Sport-Trac ARE different, yeah?)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/18/2016 at 09:18

Was this the early 3.5 or the 3.7 that was in the later models? If it was the 3.5 I can’t say I’m surprised, the Atlas was a good engine line overall, but it WAS a brand new engine and the I5's in particular (iirc) had more than their share of teething troubles. I’d avoid anything with a 2.8 or 3.5 personally.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:20

Equator is just a rebadged Frontier. But you already know that. For the same money, just get an F150. The 4.6 is rock solid, and they tend to get reasonably decent gas mileage - I see 18ish when I have to drive the boss’ truck.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Eberle-Hills-Cop
05/18/2016 at 09:20

And that body lift.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/18/2016 at 09:24

Probably the 3.5. He had it for a while and got it cheap. I think an 08 model?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Nymphicus Hollandicus
05/18/2016 at 09:26

You’ll find the same symptom. The owners are mostly blind to the issues because they’re mostly skin deep and because the trucks themselves are pretty fun in their own unique way.

And as a Colorado owner, I totally understand. I suffer from the same ailment.

Rainbow > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:32

Twins? Poor Isuzu feels neglected over here.

Kinja'd!!!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/18/2016 at 09:33

‘08 would be a 3.7L. That’s odd, I’ve always been under the impression that the 3.7 was pretty solid. Look at reviews of them, the testers always know them but the owners tend to say otherwise.

Of course, there’s bad ones in every barrel and you always hear the horror stories. That said, it seems with these trucks there’s very little in the way of a middle ground. You get a good one, or you don’t. Could be because there’s so little equipment on them that the only things to go wrong are vital components.

And GM’s warranty service is spotty at best. But at this point, these trucks are all past that anyway.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rainbow
05/18/2016 at 09:34

I wish the Izuzu had gotten the V8 option. Extra unicorn status for anyone that snagged one of those.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/18/2016 at 09:38

Dknt quote me on year, it wasn’t my truck but he did lose a LOT of money fixing it up due to the engine issues,among others.

Ssfancyfresh > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:42

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-had-a-2005-c…

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/18/2016 at 09:45

GM should really get fucked sideways, but unfortunately they make too much stuff I like for me to actively encourage that.

Quick google tells me that the LLR (3.7) supposedly corrected the L52 (3.5) head issues, but apparently while it fixed most of the issue the same thing COULD still happen to the 3.7, it just wasn’t anywhere near as likely. So, it was probably a 3.5, but there is a chance it was the later engine. Either way GM should have fixed it.

DanimalHouse > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:46

If you’re going to get a small truck, it might as well be a Tacoma. Worth the extra cash.

Kinja'd!!!

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 09:46

I found out the other day that I get supplier discounts with GM through my company, I’m really pining hard for a LT crew cab Colorado with the Duramax...

OPPOsaurus WRX > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
05/18/2016 at 10:02

I’m thinking you do as one is a Chevy and the other is a Ford

Kinja'd!!!

StingrayJake > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 10:03

I really want a new Colorado with a V6 and 4WD. That’s all I can tell you.

RangerSmith > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 10:06

Get a 2007-2011 Ford Ranger. The 4.0 Cologne is the most reliable little engine.They can be built up pretty easily too.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 10:13

If you can find/afford one with a V8 snag it. I think they’re cool trucks.

If you’re comfortable with the age the S10/15 lineup was even more reliable because 4.3L. Well, what I should say is there’s tons of stuff that’ll happen with the S10, but none of it will effect the engine/trans. Sensor here sensor there and the engine will just keep on running.

Dru > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 10:15

I worked with a guy that had one. Regular cab short bed 2wd thing. He abused the ever living mess out of that truck. Dents in every panel, cigarette ash throughout the interior, redline revs right after startup. It never seemed to want to give up.

gawdzillla > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 11:31

I’d look into the silverado instead,

since f-150 are on your list, i guees you dont have a problem with a bigger truck

you can’t kill the LS engine, 4.8 / 5.3 / 6.0 doesnt matter

should be in the same price range of whatever else u have on your list

you’d get an avg 16mpg maybe, but its an older truck its expected

you should be able to find good deals are in the extended cabs, you can fit 6 inside with the front bench

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > mkbruin, Atlas VP
05/18/2016 at 11:52

Dakota’s are good if you can find a rust free one. 4.7 is kinda a dog, I’m not sure if they made a quad cab with the 5.9 but that motor is a beast.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > gawdzillla
05/18/2016 at 13:18

4.8/5.3/6.0 does matter. The 4.8 is a decent motor, but does not belong in a full size truck. In a full size that motor becomes a slug.

5.3/6.0 are both OK.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
05/18/2016 at 13:19

If I hadn’t found one with the factory V8, my next option would have probably been finding a manual 4 banger and stuffing a 6.6 in it.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > StingrayJake
05/18/2016 at 13:22

Get a 2.5 and drop an LS in it. Seriously. I tested one and liked almost everything about it except that engine. No torque kidney punch and sounded like a Traverse. Beats me how they can make the Camaro 3.6 sound so good, when this one sounds like crap.

StingrayJake > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/18/2016 at 13:25

Damn that sucks. Hopefully it’ll improve by the time I’m actually in the market.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > StingrayJake
05/18/2016 at 13:28

Who knows, you might like it. I don’t. I’ve been spoiled by my current ride.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/18/2016 at 13:29

Yeah, the new 2.8 has 369 lbft of torque. That is insane for a 4 banger...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
05/18/2016 at 13:35

Oops...

I was talking about the 1st gen. Manual 6.6 Colorado.

But yeah. Even with the 5.3, that 2.8 has more torque than me at any point in the normal driving range (around 1200-3600 rpm). Of course, if I rug it I’d leave it for dead, but in the real world most of the time the 2.8 would actually be faster.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/18/2016 at 13:43

And way better range per tank as well. It even comes with an exhaust brake, not that familiar with the first gen, did it come with a exhaust brake option?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
05/18/2016 at 13:46

No. No diesel was offered, and it’s toy cupboard was so bare that an exhaust brake wouldn’t have even been considered.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/18/2016 at 13:53

Welp, I guess GM has seen the light with this gen Colorado.